How to Tackle Your Biggest Problems- Tutored by a Toddler

by Warren Mainard
     As a parent, are you ever amazed how much you can learn from your own children?  Usually, the lessons they teach us come from the most challenging, and even humiliating experiences. A few years ago, my family and I were at a mall in Columbia, SC.  My wife and daughter were walking around shopping, but my son Micah, who was three years old at the time, and I decided to take it easy in the center of the mall while we waited for the girls.  In this central meeting area, their was an enormous circular rug that was accented with the occasional bench on the outside of the circle.  Being a Saturday in the fall, I sat on the bench perusing college football scores while my son did what 3 year old boys do- running, rolling and rollicking around on the rug in front of me.  Out of the corner of my eyes I noticed another little boy about Micah's age step into the circle.  What happened next is no exaggeration:     All of a sudden, with no warning and no provocation, my son began running directly toward this little boy.  As I examined the situation, I intuitively understood that Micah had no intention of slowing down when he reached the other little boy.  It seemed as though everything threw into slow motion as I stood up and began running toward Micah and this little guy.  As I approached the situation I noticed that the boys father was also moving toward the situation.  This guy was about 6'5" with long black hair and tattoo's all over his arms.  To put it plainly, he was a scary looking dude, particularly compared to a guy who is 5'8" on a good day!  Then it happened, my son launched into the air, wrapped his arms around the other boy, and laid him out with the most textbook sack I have ever seen.  I was horrified, both for my son and to be quite honest, myself!  I quickly helped both the boys up, looked at my son and gave him a stern, "No son, you cannot do that.," and then I began to stand up and turn around.  Even before I stood, I could sense that this intimidating father was standing right behind me.  When my eyes met his, I had no idea what to say other than to simply blurt out, "I am so sorry, I have no idea what just happened."      While I was hopeful that the public setting my prevent me from getting a severe gunshot wound, what happened next truly surprised me.  The father laughed and then said, "No, it's OK, I just hope that one day my son will learn to tackle like that!"  I quickly thanked him and made the decision that we would spend the rest of our time waiting for the girls in the car!     I have told that story several times since then, and in reflection, I now realize that in that petrifying experience, I learned a valuable lesson about how to tackle my biggest problems.  I was tutored by a toddler!  
     Whatever your problems, whether it is managing your weight, overcoming fear, handling a difficult relationship, digging out of debt, you too can use these simple tips from my toddler on how to tackle your biggest problems.
1.  Approach it Head On     My son went straight at the little boy with total focus.  "One of these days" will never cut it when it comes to our biggest problems.  Don't dance around the issue or fidget.  Identify your target and go after it.  Focus is essential in tackling your problems.  Most people don't know how to answer their biggest problems because they have failed to ask the right questions.  The key to accurate solutions is focused questions.  So, the first thing you must do is know what it is that you actually want to tackle and go straight at it!
2.  Throw everything into it.     To take down your problems, you must be willing to throw your whole self into it, wrap it up and take it down.  Proper tackling requires you lower your shoulder, wrap up, and throw everything into it.  Whatever your problem, you will never tackle it with a half hearted approach.  As you identify your target, visualize what it might take to tackle that problem.  What will you have to sacrifice?  What kind of effort will this problem require?  If it is really important to you, make the decision to lower your shoulder, wrap it up, and take it down no matter what the cost!
3.  Trust in your support team.     Whether Micah cognitively understood this or not, he instinctively understood that if anything were to happen, that I would be there to help him.  None of us can do it alone.  If you find yourself struggling or in trouble, you need others around you who will be prepared to pick you back up, dust you off, and get your back if things don't go your way.  When building a support team to help you tackle your problem, ask yourself these questions:  Who can best assist you in overcoming your problem?  What authority will they have to speak into your life in regards to your problem?  How will you inform or involve your support team in overcoming your problem? 
     So, I pass on to you, these principles from a preschooler, If you want to tackle your biggest problems, take it from a toddler and 1. Approach it head on, 2. Throw everything into it, and 3.  Trust in your support team.     When you Tackle your Biggest Problems, you not only reach a significant accomplishment in your own life, but you also may end up inspiring those around you as well!

Warren Mainard is the lead pastor of Essential Church, a new church plant meeting at the South Bellevue Community Center.  He is married with two children, one of whom he affectionately calls "crash."